Anyone have photos of how you carry 4x8 sheet goods?

It could well be, I don't know, but my assumption would be that it's the same thin metal as everywhere else with a few layers added in. It doesn't take too long to pull the cover and see. I had it off to add the reverse camera but didn't inspect that area.

 

That’s a lot of weight on the tailgate.

 

About 400 lbs.

 

I’ve had way more on my 2nd gen trucks. It’s fine, people are way overboard saying the tailgates are weak. Most of the weight is down at the lower end anyways. I can easily lift up the entire load and open the tailgate. The weight is distributed between the front, the wheelwells and the tailgate.

 

I'm in the Okanagan, and I go out of my way to get Otter feed

 

Most of that weight is in the front. Pressing against the front of the bed. It’s not all on the tailgate.

 

Well done

 

True there is some force difference front and back because of the angle of the load, but if you do a static force diagram, only forces are at two points, front and back down. Force in the back is not alleviated from the load 'pushing' into the front of the bed. It's way over 300 lbs, about 350. If the load were level it would be shared equally, 50% front and back.

 

Wrong, they also rest on the wheelwells. It’s not 350lbs, I lifted it and lowered the tailgate myself.

 

16 sheets of that 7/16 osb ply at 48 pounds each is 768 pounds total.
Even if its resting in the middle you lifted 384 pounds. Really ?

 

I’m sorry you don’t understand physics.

 

I took many statics and dynamics engineering classes. Fill me in.
Nonetheless nobody needs any logic to realize lifting 16 pieces of 7/16 ply at one end is a feat regardless of how its loaded.

 

_____________
___I_____I___^

Crude diagram but if something is supported where the vertical bars are, you can lift at the arrow and the force required is reduced substantially. It's how I can get a 500lb timber up on saw horses by myself.

 

Once you lift at the right end, is not the only point of load at the extreme left vertical bar ? Yes. Middle one is not in play then. ie only 2 points. Rear and you holding it. Load is split, 50%.

 

https://www.vcalc.com/wiki/KurtHeckman/Mechanical+Leverage+Calculator

Also... he has a long bed. The wheel well fulcrum isn't a thing in a 5 foot bed since they are all the way to the cab.

 

It removed my spaces, look at edited diagram

 

I only see where there are two points of load once raised. You '^' (tailgate) and 'I' near cab. Ply is at an angle once raised any at all. Once lifted any at ^ that middle I is no longer in the equation. You are supporting a good portion of the load. Proportional to the distances between the only 2 points. Angle come into play as it is raised also.

 

My point is if 1 of 2 supports is closer to the balance point, there is less weight held by the outboard support.

 

Exactly. Plus you are only lifting it maybe a half inch to allow the tailgate to drop and then lowering the load which will pivot on the wheelwells like a teeter totter.